Tractor



E. H. DIECKMANN.

TRACTOR.

M mm.

E. H. DIECKMANN.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19,1918.

l,324309.` Patented Dec. 9,1919.

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EDWARD DIECKMNN, 0F FLORRISANT,'MISSOURI.

TRACTOR.

T0 all irl: omv 'it may concern:

lw it known that I, tllnnzino H. 'DIECK- maxx, a citizen of the United States, Vand residing at Florrisant, county o'f St. Louis, Stato of lilissouri, have invented n' certain new and useful Improvement in Tractors, of which the following is a specification.

'lhis invention relates to tractors.

ln tractors as now constructed, the steer- 'ingr is accomplished through one or more steering wheels mounted on the tractor flame, either in front of or behind the'traction wheels. ln view of'theifhct, however, that the steering wheel or wheels 'are mounted for free movement, it is diiiicultto turn sharp corners, especifilly 'on Aor lplojsved ground, and especially if there'ns considerable loadfdrawn by the tractor. -V ThisV is -due to the *fact that the steering wheelior ,wheels act as o rudder on :a ship, the timiiiigmorei ment being yaccom' 'lished by thefresistance *offered h v this v elpr "wheels,y Accordingly, where the steering'f'wheel --or 'whlhs y' apegiren sharp turn, theylnreliable to d axially instead of wringing the tractor frame, this action being especial-lyr noticeable in *soft vronnd, and wherethere isili4 considerable diag by :a heavy load on the' tractor, as this heavy-load tends to keep the tractor moving in a straight line. i

@ne of .he objects of. thisini'entiom'there@ fore, is to provide atracoor in the steering wheel or'wheels are drivenirom the motor of the tractor, `init 'which have snch drivin-fr connectionsiwith-jtlre motor, and so controlled, that this esteeringtmictionfwheel or wheels may he connected nt'wiil with the motoqso as to be driven in either direction 'when making the desired tnrn.

At'the time 4that the'tmctlcr is a turn, the axis of .the :wheel o r wheels is at un angle with to the axis of the "Y traction: wheel or "wheels, Accordingly,

where there are inequlities'fin' the soll, which is generally the cese, the steering l wheel or wheels willnot only fail to make proper contact with the ground, but will throw considerable strain on .the frame and other parts. Accordingly, the efectivo'. traction of these steering wheels cannot he utilized unless special provisions are made.;

Another object` of this invention, therefore, is to provide a tractor having a'steer ing traction wheel 4or wheels, so constructed so mounted onlthe frame of the tractcri.n

Specicatlon of Letters atent.

so connected with the drivin motor, as to accommodate itself or themse ves to the inequalities of the ground.

Another object is to provide a tractor in which the driving traction wheel or wheels, and the steering traction wheel-or wheels are so connected with ythe driving motor, and in which these connections are so controlled as to -permit connection and disconnection of these wheels independently, and s0 :les t0 perinit'these wheels t0 be driven selectively and at will in any desired direction. f

.AnotheI object is to provide mechanism adapted to be applied to any suitable tractor, whether new or now in use.

Another object is to provide :t tractor which is simple in construction and operation, effective in its action, `and cheapto '-mannliactnre.

?Further objects will appear from the de- 'tilil description taken in connectionfwith the :accompanying drawings, in` which, -I `igure 1 is a .longitudinal vertical section, .partly in elevation of the tractor embodying this invent/ion; l

Fig. 2 a detail plan view of the 4steering mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a detail rear elevation of the steering ,traction wheel und its connected mechanism;

Fig. 4 is n detail section on the line l-4,V

3, showing the controlling mechanism for the's'teerh traction wheel;

Fig. 5 is a ctail similar to Fig. 1, but showing another embodiment 0f this inven tion;

F 1. '6 is a detail rear elevation of,..the traction steern r wheels, showing their connections to the ironie, and showing also the driving connections; and,

i i Fig. 7 is a detail plan View showing the controllngnconnections.

Referring to the accompanying drawing,

and rst to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the tractor frame comprises a,A pair of side membelfs 1, connected nt' their forward ends by a crossbar 2, and at their rear endsl by a cross-bar 43. Thesidenmembers 1 have mounted there on, bearings 4, which sus end the frame from the axles 5 of the criving traction wheels 6, these driving traction wheels being pmvidedwith suitable guards 7; `The crossniemher has mounted thereon, lates 8 and 9 respectively, between whic and the imges l0 of the cross-member 43, is riveted.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

Application filed 'July I9, 1918. Serial 110.245,65).

the shank 11 of a bracket 12, which curves upwardly and rearwardly and supports the steering wheel, as hereinafter' described.

The tractor frame supportel a suitable motor 13, which is preferably of the hydrocarbon type, and the crank-shaft of this motor carries a suitable fly-wheel 14 which is connected by a suitable clutch l5 with a shaft 16. This clutch is adapted to connect and disconnect the shaft 16 with and from thr` motor crank-shaft, the controlling connections being of any suitable and well known construction, and including a link 17 connected with a hand lever 18 pivoted at 19 l5 lon the bracket 12. This bracket 12 has also mounted thereon, a driver seat 20, and the hand level' 18 is arranged within reach of the driver, so that the clutch may be operA ated at will to connect and disconnect the 20 shaft 16 to and from the motor crank-shaft. The shaft 16 has splined thereto, a sliding gear- 21 which also meshes with a sliding gear22 on a stub-shaft 23, all mounted in a bracket 24 on the tractor frame,'and these 25 gears 21 and 22 are adapted to be meshed with a gear 25 on a shaft 26 mounted in bearings 27 on the side members 1. The shaft26 is in sections extending across the tractor frame, and each section has fixed 30 thereto, a pinion 28 adapted to mesh with a gear 29 on the driving traction wheel 6. It will, of course, be understood that the gear 25 is connected to the sections 26 through suitable differential mechanism. In order to control the meshing of the pinions 21 and 22 with the gear 25, so as to selectively drive the driving traction wheels in either direc 'tion, suitable shifting mechanism is pro vided, this `shifting mechanism being con- 40 trollcd by a rotatable rod 30 mounted in the bracket 12, connected at its forwardend to shift the pinons 21 and 22, and` provided atv its lear end with an arm 31, which is within reach of the drivel' sitting on the seat 20. These drivingl connections just described, as well as the controlling mechanism therefor, may be of any suitable construction, and are well known to those skilled in the art, their construction and function being such that upon movement of the arm 31v in one direction, the pinions 21 and 22 are i shiftcdto connect the shaftl with the gear 25, so as to drive the driving traction wheels in one direction; while when the arinl is 6b shifted in the opposite direction, the pinions 21 and22 are so shifted as'to connect the shaft 16 with the gear 25, so as to drive the driving traction wheel 6 in the Yreverse direction.

G0 the clutch is disengaged during the gearshifting movement. This mcchanisin is so well known in thc art that further description thereof will be unnecessary.

'lhe side members l have attached thereto,

B5 a tractor connection comprising a pair .of

lt will, of course, be understood that` side members 32 extending rearwardly and connected at their rear end by a rounded yoke 33, which is encircled by a clevis 34, adapted to be attached to a plow or an 'suitable mechanism which is to be drawn y the tractor.

The bracket 12 hai,` formed thereon, a, tubular bearing 40 which receives a hollow shank 41 carrying at its lower end, forks 42 provided with bea rings f3 for the shaft 44 of a steering traction wheel 45. This steering traction wheel is comparatively narrow, and is provided with a rib 46, and with spurs 47, so as to obtain a firm grip on the soil; at the same time, it is adapted to accommodate itself to the inequalities of the ground. The tubular shank 41 has fixed to its upper end, a worm segment 48 meshing with a worm 49 on a shaft 50, mounted in bearings ou a braclget 51, clamped or secured to the tubular bearing 40. The shaft 50 is provided with a hand wheel 52, accessible to the driver sitting on the seat 20, so that the driver may control the movement of the shank 41, the forks 42, and the steering traction wheel 45.

lfonnted in a bracket 53 on the bracket. 4 is, a shaft 54, which has fixed thereto a gear 55, vin continual mesh with the pinion'21 on4 th'e shaft 16, and this shaft 54 has also fixed thereto, a bevel gear 56 meshing with a bevel gear 57 on a shaft 58, supported in bearings 59 and 60 on the tractor frame and the bracket 51 respectively. The shaft 58 extends rearwardly, as shown in Fig. l, and has fixed thereto a bevel gear 61 meshing with a bevel gear 62 on a shaft 63 extending through the shank 41. This shaft 63 has fixed thereto a bevel gear 64 meshing with a pair o f be\cl gears 65 loosely mount/ed on a shaft 66 in the fork 42. The bevel gears 65 are provided with jaw-clutch teeth 67, adapted to bc engaged by the jaws on a, clutchsleeve 68, splined on the shaft 66, and engaged by a fork 69 on a lever 76, pivoted 110 at 71 on the bracket 12, and provided at its rear cud with a pedal or heel engaging member 72 having upper extending fianges 73,

"whercby the arlil may be shifted by the heel of tlnwlrivcr sitting on the Seat 20, so 115 as to selectively connect either of the bevel gears 65 with the shaft 66. The shaft'GG hasl fixed thereto a sprocket 74 which is connected by a chain 75 with a sprocket 76 on the shaft 44.

lVheu the tractor is driven forwardly or rearwardly in a straight line, the arm 7() is shifted to neutral position, 'as shown in Fig. 3, so as to leave the steering traction rwheel 45 free to turn freely w'ith its shaft 125 44. The control of the tractor in driving forwardly or rcverscly is, therefore, governed b v the clutch and gear connections controlled b'y the arms 18 and 3l. At this y time the position of the steering traction 130 `wheel L can, of course, be controlled by the hand wheel 52. Then n sharp turn is to be imade, thc driving traction wheels nre d1sshift the'arm 70 to shift the clutch sleeve (38,

so as to connect the desired bevel gear 65 to .the shaft 66, depending upon the direction which it is desired thesteerlng tractlon .gwheel shall turn. The Vsteering traction wheel cn now be adjusted even transversely Qfthelougitudinnl line of the tractor. frnme by mnipulation of the hand wheel 52, and by then e aging the clutch through the 'operation' o the 'arm or clutch lever 18,

,power is applied to 'the steering traction wheel '45, thereby causing vthis wheel to swing'tlie entire tractor frame on a. point Inidway the driving traction wheels' ns nn axis, so as to turn the=tractor through any suitnblelengle, even ninety (90) degrees or greater. In View of the fact that the steer- -this time, Y it will mg 'traction Wheel is positively driven at ositively carry the load .attached to the cevis 34` with it, sod thisv clevis can slide freely on the rounded crosspieo'e 33, while the turn is being made. yliti Qoterthe' traotorhas thus been swung 4tothe desired ongle, the clutch sleeve 68lcan n'g'ftin' v gagmg the clutch 15'1,n and then by again shifting the armiBlrin the desired direction, the tractor can be driven foward after the steering' traction wheel 45 has again been straightened out. In making gradnalturns, itis desirable to drive both the driving traction wheels 6,' and the steering traction wheel 45, and this can be readily laccomplished, since the drjving gear'ng connecting the motor with these wheels can bevrendered operative concurrently, or either independently `end `-seiparetely at the willof the operator. `It

will be noted4 that on account of the fact that'the steerin traction ywheel is, narrow, it can readily a, pt itself to the inequalities of` the ground, et the same time maintaining the driving connections to this wheel. The 'full traction eifeet of this wheel is, therefore, maintained, and no twistingr strains lvfire y thrown on the traction frame. In view of thefact that the bracket 12 is a. separe/oeY member attached to the frame of the tracmr,

'by the substitution of' another bracket, any' Aexisting tractor can be readily converted to employ this invention.

5, 6 and 7 show anotherembodiment of this invention in which the traction steering mechanism comprises a pair of wheels. In such n case, of course, special provisions must be made in order to permit tliesewheels to accommodate themselves to inequalities .ofthe ground. Accordingly, there must be a flexible connection, not only ,between the having a bevel ,crear S4 meshing with n bevel gear H5, which hasl n'benring ilrextcnsions 86 of the axle tubes. The extensions B are pivoted nt 8T to the forks 88 fixed to the shank -1-1. The shaft of the bevel geur S5 also has n universal coupling connection Si) with n shaft 9() passing through the tubular shank il, -lhis tu-bular shank also hav` ing n worm'scgment engaging n worin ou the shaft 50` provided with a hnnd wheel 52, as in the construction' heretofore described. It will be noted, however, that the axes of the coupling S9 are concentric with` the nxis of the pivotal connection 87 which, ns shown, is trnnsverscto the nxis of the axle sections 81.

The shaft .90 Ehns fixed thereto Aa bevel gear 91, which meshes with n .liair of bevel ars 92,4 loose one; shaft 93, mounted in strings, Stien-fthe bracket .51, vand 'this shaft Blias miyrersa'l coupling connection withthiifslnlft 58. hebevel ,gears 92' ija'ws 97 splined tothe shaft 93, and engaged byed -fork 98. on uneiim 99 ,pivoted nt 100 on 1in extension lill, attached,l to the bracket 51, the `nrin '99'1iiovinggm'er it segment 1,02 on thisbmcketlgyshiftingthe 1min 99, theclntch-sleeve 97 miiwlyeeshifted to. at will, :connect either of 'thedievel cnrs 92 with the shaft 93, so ns to yselectiv ysaenuso vthe motor -to drive the steeringtraction wheels v80 in either direction. Y

The operation of this mechanism Vis substantiall y the same als of the `en'l'bodiment heretofore described, and 'ndetail description thereof is, therefore, unnecessary; It will, however, be noted that on account of the fact-.that .there area ,pai-.f lof traction wheels pnovidedAt-s necessary 'topmvide di'ererrtial mechnnislnconnecting the drivinggearing with these wheels. Moreric over, inorder to aliowffthcseswheelso ac "115 commoda'be themselves to the inequalities'of tlieground, the flexible connection-s between the steer' tween the riving gearing and thesewheels,

to the' iso same time, these wheelsare adapted to accommodute themselves to the inequalities of the ground so that not only is the Greatest tractive ellort applied to this wheel or wheels, but no undue strains are thrown on the tractor frame. I

It i obvious that variouslchanges may be madein the details of construction, without departing from the spirit of this invention. It is, thcrefore,to he understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific construction shown and described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. In a tractor, the combination with a frame, a motor thereon, and a tract ion wheel mounted on said frame and connected to be driven by said motor, of tractive steering;r means including a carrier, a steering wheel mounted on said carrier and adapted to automatically accommodate itself to inequalities of the ground, and drivin connections mounted on said carrier and etween said steering wheel and said niotor, adapted to selectively drive said steering Wheel in either direction, independent of 'said traction wheel.

2. In a tractor, the combination with a frame, of a motor thereon, a driving traction wheel mounted on said frame, tractive steering means includingr a carrier, a steering traction wheel mounted on said carrier and adapted 'to automatically accommodate itsell` to inequalities of the ground,` forward and reverse driving connections lbetween said motor and said driving traction wheel, and forward and reverse connections mounted on said carrier and between said motor and said steering traction wheel and independent of said driving traction wheel connections.

3. In a tractor, the combination with a. frame, a. motor thereon, and a traction wheel mounted on said fraaie and connected to be driven by said motor, of a bracket on said frame having a bearing, a carrier having a, tubular shak fitting said bcaring, a, steering traction wheel mounted in said carrier,

steering means for turning said shank, and" connections betweenfsaid motor and said steering traction wheel, includinglr a. drive` shaft mounted in said shank and reversing gearing between said shaft and said steering traction wheel.

4. In n. tractor, the combination with a frame, a motor thereon, and a traction wheel mounted on said frame and connected to be driven by said motor, of u. bracket mounted on said frame and having a bearin", a. carrier mounted for movement in said caring, a steering taction wheel mounted in said carrier, steering means on said bracket for turninnr said carrier, a drivers seat mounted on said bracket, driving connections from said motor to said steering traction wheel, and means mounted on said bracket for controlling said connections.

5. In a tractor, the combination with a. frame, a motor thereon, and a traction wheel mounted on said frame and connected to be driven by said motor, of a pair of connected steering traction wheels, a support for and connecting said wheels. a carrier for mo'nnt ing said supporting and said steering tracv lion wheels for steering movement on said frame, adapted to permit said connected wheels to acconmiodate themselves to the inequalities` of the ground1 stceringconneetions to said carrier, and driving connections from said motor to said connected wheels.

6. In a tractor, the combination with a frame, a motor thereon, and a traction wheel mountedon said frame and connected to be driven by said motor, of a pair of connected steering traction'wheels, a support for and connecting said wheels. a carrier mounted for steeringr movement on said frame` meaih` for flexibly lnountin, r said support in said carrier, adapted to permit said connectfd wheels to accommodate themselves to the in equalities of the ground, steering connections to said carrier, and driving,r connections from said motor to said connected wheels, including driving' means suppoltcd in said carrier.

7. In a tractor, the combimition with a frame, a motor thereon, and a traction wheel mounted on said frame and connected to be driven by said motor, ot' a pair yof connected steering traction wheels, a support for and connecting said wheels, a carrier mounted for steering movement on said frame. n-eans for lexibl mounting said support in said carrier, a apted to permit said connected wheels to accommodate themselves to the inequalities of thc ground, steering conne( tions to said carrier, and driving connections -from idlmotor to said connected wheels, including a driving element mounted i'i said carrier, and a driven element connecte( with said wheels and flexibly connected to said driving element. y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature this 12th day of April, 1918.`

EDWARD H'.' DIECKMA N N. 

